Alton, Mo. – Good Friday and Easter are coming up. Good Friday is April 10, 2020, and Easter is April 12, 2020. Remembering that the good news of God’s work in Jesus Christ is still relevant for today, here’s some history behind the two holidays.
Good Friday/Crucifixion
Good Friday is the Friday before Easter. It was a bad day for God’s son, but because of his work, we are blessed with all sorts of benefits. It is now, “Good Friday.” It is when Jesus Christ died on the cross in Jerusalem. Jesus died on the hill, Golgotha. Golgotha means the place of a skull (John 19:17).
Crucified beside Jesus were two thieves where, before they died, one of the thieves believed in Jesus. When Jesus died, it was usual that the Roman soldiers break the legs of the people who were crucified, but for Jesus, they pierced his side with a spear (John 19:34).
When the sixth hour came, the sky darkened over all the earth until the ninth hour (Mark:15:33), and the veil of the temple split in half. Jesus cried out, “It is finished” then died (John 19:30).
Jesus was laid in a tomb and was guarded by soldiers so no one would take his body.
Easter/Resurrection
On the third day of Jesus being dead, Jesus Christ arose from the grave.
In the early morning of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the tomb to put spices on his body(Matthew 28:1). There was an earthquake, and the angel of the Lord descended from heaven and rolled back the stone and sat upon it. The angel said to them, “Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay” (Matthew 28:5-6).
Jesus Christ was later to visit Mary, the disciples, and other people during his time after his Resurrection before he went back up to heaven.
